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From Hollywood to PBJ sandwiches, there are countless incredible things for which we can be thankful to no one else than the US.

In Europe, millennial kids grew up watching Powerpuff Girls, wearing Vans slip-ons, and listening to The Smashing Pumpkins in their teenage years. Fast forward to a more recent age and the music world would never be the same without Queen B or controversial Ye. It’s fair to say that the impact of American culture around the globe has been unequaled since the dawn of time, and it’s time to celebrate it!

So today, we looked at this Ask Reddit thread to find out what American staples have found their popularity abroad, according to people, and the responses are very interesting!

#1

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Gender reveal parties. One of the worst gifts the US has given

67th_Noodle , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

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kaa1710 avatar
Kaa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gender reveal party = celebrating the baby's genitals. Weird s**t, if you think about it

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#2

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer GPS

The American military gave away one of the coolest technologies to the world. No service fees, no subscriptions. Imagine if Meta or Apple had invented it.

shingogogo , Brecht Denil Report

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eyelessonex avatar
Corvus
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they had invented it, it would have probably had unskippable ads. Lots of them!

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#3

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer National parks. It was started in America by future Republican president Theodore Roosevelt and quickly it became a world wide practice.

Zachmcmkay , Johannes Andersson Report

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artturf avatar
XenoMurph
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Many mistakenly think America’s Yellowstone National Park is the oldest in the world but there’s one that was created a century earlier. Established by the Mongolian government in 1778, the area surrounding Bogd Khan Uul Biosphere Reserve is actually the oldest in the world. It is located south of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and takes three to four hours to hike. You’ll find many cultural sites surrounding the park, including the ruins of Manzushir Monastery, Buddha Park, and Zaisan Memorial."

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#4

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Blue jeans

WolfThick , Tamara Bellis Report

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liuba-vercellabaglione avatar
LilliVB
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The patent is American (Levi Strauss, XIX Century). But that particular kind of fabric emerged around three centuries prior, between the Italian city of Genoa and the french city of Nîmes. (Edit: dates, I didn't remember the date of the patent correctly)

oasissisao avatar
all caps
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favorite song lyrics, regarding the power of culture - The Levi jean will always be stronger than the uzi.

faithhurst-bilinski avatar
Bi-Polar Express
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tell my students that the two people who made the most money off of the gold rush never saw panned or sluiced a thing. Levi Strauss and Lee Stetson.

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nicpay avatar
Yeah, okay.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They can't be American because of their religion? Really, is that what you're going for, here ?

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#6

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Peanut butter

in-a-microbus , Matthew Paul Argall Report

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blue1steven avatar
Donkey boi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll give them this one because the title says 'America' and not 'the US'. Peanut butter can traced back as far as the the Aztec.

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#7

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Coca-Cola

destro23 , Adrian Scottow Report

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denver_3 avatar
Den Ver
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be even more popular if it included BOTH of the ingredients it is named after!

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#8

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Hamburgers, with pickles mustard etc. It’s a strange combo. Delicious but I doubt the entire world would have that as a common item

prestigiousuniverse , amirali mirhashemian Report

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blue1steven avatar
Donkey boi
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was extremely common in Europe before the Americas were even discovered. When the colonists travelled to the new world, it was those people gabbing a snack at the port of Hamburg that carried the idea over the pond. I would argue that America made the cheap, poorly made hamburger popular, but not the hamburger.

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#9

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Superheroes and their movies.

anon , Mike McKone and Morry Hollowell / Marvel Comics Report

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staphgirl79 avatar
Mistiekim
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about anime? Has that been around longer than the American comics, or is that genre not considered a superhero like medium? *Edit to add - my question here is not about anime being first, but that if it was already popular internationally then the US didn’t necessarily contribute something unique? I’m not versed enough in anime or manga to say if there is any kind of superhero similarities.

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#10

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Disneyland and Disney.
It’s not surprising they’ve been able to expand out to other countries. There’s all the magic, happiness, and whatnot that comes with it.

That, and they are using “It’s a Small World” to hypnotize us all.

yogos15 , Barry Mulling Report

#13

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Hip hop.

Try_to , Wallace Chuck Report

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misscakeninja avatar
Mayra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hip hop is art, and just like any other form of art, it’s subjective. You don’t have to like it or understand it, but you will shake your a*s when Rump Shaker comes on I don’t give a f*** who you are 😂

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#14

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Spam in northeast-asia, especially South Korea

American soldiers ate it during the Korea war and it gained popularity to the point that it's a common food for both Koreans, Japanese, and some Chinese cultures such as Shanghainese

Front_Tomorrow , Kanesue Report

#15

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Christmas lights strung outside of the houses!

luhrenzo , Juliana Malta Report

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blue1steven avatar
Donkey boi
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think you'll find that was actually Germany. From there it spread throughout Europe, then moved westward to the Americas.

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#21

Hating the U.S.

OneSaucyDragon Report

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annikperrot avatar
Annik Perrot
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don't "hate" you. We just like to bring you back down à notch or two when your superiority complex goes overboard. 😇

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#22

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer McDonald’s

MF_Ghidra , Mike Mozart Report

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#25

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Hollywood

SuvenPan , Shinya Suzuki Report

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matojakubik avatar
Cuppa tea?
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not like there weren't other towns and cities names Hollywood before. OP is most likely refering to movie industry based in town called Hollywood, California.

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#26

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Proms... in other countries some schools host proms just because they see it on TV.

RedpilledChris , Long Truong Report

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artturf avatar
XenoMurph
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, other countries have "Debutante" dances at a similar age. The name has perhaps changed, and more decorations maybe, but the event was there.

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#27

Crocs

sev45day Report

#28

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Black Friday. It’s a worldwide thing now even though only the US has TG the day before.

MochaUnicorn369 , CardMapr.nl Report

#29

Marvel Comics

SkinnyObelix Report

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denver_3 avatar
Den Ver
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These 53 BP Posts = "POPULAR". ... Not, 'x' also exists, or, "it wasn't first".

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#30

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer The Irish. Since we emigrated in the 1800s, all of the big American celebrities say “I’ve got Irish roots” and it’s attracted attention to that little Green island that isn’t part of England. Particularly the west coast of Ireland.

Pitiful-Bass-535 , Anna Church Report

#31

The internet, preceided by the ARPANET, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Defenses.

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jeffgabrisl avatar
Jeff Gabrisl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, the 7 main servers that control The internet are located in the good old USA thanks to ARPANET. This is obviously due to the fact that one Telephone and Telegraph company held a monopoly over. The US, and it was easy for them to connect everything. They also owned Bell labs, the birthplace of UNIX and the C programming language.

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Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 31 images based on user votes.

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